Is Beef Legal in Mumbai?

Hindus consider cows to be a sacred animal that needs to be treated with honor and respect, and not slaughtered for meat. However, the Indian government has made slaughter/consumption of beef legal in some parts of the country. Is Mumbai one of those places with no legislation? Is beef legal in Mumbai? 

Slaughter and/or consumption of beef is illegal in Mumbai. You could be fined or jailed for possessing cow meat within the territory of Maharashtra. According to a report by MumbaiMirror, cow slaughter has been condemned since 1976, but the beef ban was officially implemented across the state on March 5, 2015.

Tourists flying into Mumbai need to dispose of any food items containing beef at the departure airport itself. If you happen to carry any food items containing beef in your bag, kindly notify the airport authorities at the arrival airport. The authorities will most likely help you dispose of it in the right way. 

Note that it is illegal to slaughter cows, bulls, and bullocks in Mumbai. However, feel free to consume Buffalo (carabeef) meat in the city. 

In addition to Buffalo meat, you can also consume chicken, goat, sheep, lamb, and pork in Mumbai. You will find all the aforementioned legal meat delicacies in several restaurants across the city.

Is Buffalo meat popular in Mumbai?

Buffalo meat is also known as beef in Mumbai, although some people call it “buff” or “carabeef”. According to Wikipedia, the young ones— more popular for their tender meat — are called “padwa”. 

To answer your question, Buffalo meat is not very popular in Mumbai. But it is the only bovine meat available here, hence beef lovers have no other choice. Compared to cow meat, Buffalo meat has a more acidic value which gives it a strong smell. Some people are put off by the gamey taste of Buffalo meat.

Since the official meat ban in Maharashtra, most restaurants in Mumbai— which earlier were popular for cow meat— have begun selling Buffalo meat with the same recipe. 

If you are interested in trying out Buffalo meat, I will suggest visiting Mohammed Ali road in South Mumbai. You will find some decent restaurants there, namely Noor Mohammadi Restaurant and Mashaallah Cuisine.

How does the beef ban affect restaurant owners in Mumbai?

The beef ban has affected the restaurants that used to sell a variety of beef dishes. Although it is legal to add dishes made from Buffalo meat to the menu, most restaurant owners consider it a risk, says a report by the Hindu. 

Restaurant owners in Mumbai do not want their non-beef eating customers to get the wrong idea. As a result, they have taken all beef dishes (including the legal Buffalo meat) off of the menu.

Needless to mention, this has led to financial losses as beef-based dishes were quite popular, mainly among foreigners staying or visiting Mumbai. 

Restaurant owners located in Muslim areas of Mumbai have been looking for beef alternatives that can satisfy the taste buds of their loyal customers. Buffalo meat is a good substitute for cow meat, as a result, you will find a lot of restaurants in Muslim areas selling Buffalo meat. 

Moreover, high-end restaurants also had to bear the brunt of the beef ban in Maharashtra. A statewide beef ban means no more importing expensive beef from countries like the United States and Japan. 

Where can I legally eat cow meat in India?

To your surprise, you can still consume cow meat dishes in some parts of India. Not all states have had to implement the beef ban, especially the ones with a majority of Christian and Muslim populations. 

You are allowed to eat cow meat dishes in the following states in India:

• Assam 
• West Bengal 
• Arunachal Pradesh 
• Goa
• Kerala
• Manipur
• Meghalaya
• Mizoram
• Nagaland
• Tripura
• Sikkim
• Lakshadweep
• Karnataka
• Jharkhand
• Orissa
• Telangana
• Daman and Diu
• Dadra and Nagar Haveli
• Pondicherry
• Andaman and Nicobar Islands 

Source: BBC

Final word

Cows (or cattle in general) are treated like pets in India, they are the main source of milk and other dairy products. Cows have a greater religious significance than other cattle. The real reason behind the ban is still not clear, but I personally do not have a problem with the ban.